Liquid gauge-line wiper



SePt- 11, 1955 R. A. BRATToN 2,762,075

LIQUID GAUGE-LINE WIPER Filed Feb. 19, 1954 United States Patent O M LIQUID GAUGE-LINE WIPER Richard A. Bratton, Monahans, Tex. Application February 19, 1954, Serial No. 411,430

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-210) This invention relates to a 'device especially designed as an attachment for use with a gauge-hatch for liquid containers and is adapted to remove liquid adhering to a gauge tape or line as the same is removed from the container.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a wiper for liquid level gauge tapes or lines, the Wiper serving as a guide during the insertion and removal of the tape and to clean the tape of the liquid as it is withdrawn from the container so that the adhering liquid falls back into the container, thereby preventing the liquid from accumulating on the hatch and its component elements as well as surrounding parts and areas.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wiper attachment for a gauge tape which may be secured to a plurality of hatches having dierent configurations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be inexpensively manufactured, is noncomplex in construction, assembly and installation, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when used in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wiper attachment constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on the horizontal plane of line 3 3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an end elevation taken on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 1 designates, in general, a gauge tape wiping device designed for attachment to the hatch of a liquid container and constructed in accordance with the present invention. The device 1 comprises an elongated substantially rectangular base 2 having its opposite ends offset in the same direction to provide the anges 3 and 4 having bolt openings 5 and 6, respectively, extending transversely therethrough.

The base 2 is provided with a transverse slot 7 adjacent that end thereof adjacent the offset flange 3, and a medially positioned longitudinal slot 8 proximates the offset flange 4. The base 2 is also provided with a bolt receiving opening 9 which extends transversely therethrough.

A clamp plate 10 is provided with a longitudinal medially positioned slot 11 adjacent one end thereof adapted for alignment with the slot 8. The plate 10 is also formed with a bolt receiving opening 12 which is aligned with the bolt opening 9 and is positioned adjacent the other end thereof. As seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the other end of the clamp plate 10 terminates in a lateral ange 13 having a reduced tongue 14 which is guidedly received within the slot 7.

A substantially rectangular wiper block 15 formed of rubber or other suitable material is provided with a slit 16 which extends inwardly from one end thereof at the point of tangency of the opposed arcuate end portions l? and 18 which cooperate to form a tape guide slot therebetween. The block 15 is completed by providing a pair of oppositely disposed keys 19, 19', each of which project laterally from opposite sides of the block l5 and are adapted to be received within the aligned slots S and 11.

A bolt 20 is passed through the openings 7 and 12 and is provided with a wing nut 21 which bears against the plate 10 whereby the pressure exerted upon the block 15 between the base 2 and plate 10 may be adjusted.

As seen in the drawing, the base 2 and its associated anges 3 and 4 are formed of metal or other materials having suicient elasticity to permit the anges to be bent (seeFig. 2) to conform to the curvature of circular or oval type hatch openings, and the openings 5 'and 6 receive bolts therethrough (not shown) for securing the ydevice 1 to the hatch below the hatch cover.

In operation, after a liquid level reading has been taken from a gauge tape, the tape is inserted within the container and is guided into the slit 16 between the arcuate end sections 17, 18 of the block 15. The tape is then reeled upwardly and as the tape passes through the slit 16, the adjacent sides of the block 15 wipe the tape of the adhering liquid.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is oered by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A liquid level gauge tape wiping device for attachment to the gauge hatch of a liquid container comprising an elongated base having a ange at each end thereof offset in the same direction therefrom for mounting the base to said hatch, said base having a transverse slot formed therein adjacent one of its ends and a medially positioned ilongitudinally extending slot proximate the other end thereof, said base having an opening formed therein intermediate said iirst and second slots, a clamp plate extending substantially parallel to said base and having a medial longitudinally extending slot formed therein proximate one of its ends and aligned with said longitudinal slot formed in said base, said plate having an opening formed therein adjacent its other end and aligned with said opening formed in said base, said plate terminating in a lateral llange at its said other end, said flange having a reduced portion forming a tongue inserted within said first slot, a block of resilient material disposed between said base and plate, sai-d block having longitudinally extending keys projecting from opposite sides thereof and received within said rst and second longitudinal slots, said block having a slit extending inwardly from one end thereof, and means extending through said rst and second openings coacting with said base and plate for adjusting the compressional force on said block clamped therebetween.

2. A liquid level gauge tape wiping device for attachment to the gauge hatch, of a liquid container comprising an elongated base having a ange at each end thereof oEset in the same direction therefrom for mounting the base to said hatch, said base having a transverse slot formed therein adjacent one of its ends and a medially positioned longitudinally extending slot proximate the other end thereof, said base having an opening formed therein intermediate said rst and second slots, a clamp plate extending substantially parallel to said base and hav- Patented Sept. 11, 1956 ing'aimeain longitudinally ex'tenaing siofiffhied therein proximetne Qf its @ms andlgned Wifheid leagitefnel slot formed in said hase, said plate having an opening formed therein adjacent its other end and aligned With saiidfirstY opening formed' in saidV base, said kplate)terminating in a'flateral flange at Yitssaid other endsai,d Harige having a reduced portion formingva tongue inserted Within Ysaid rstfslot, a block ofresilient material disposed between said baise and plate, said bloek havinglongitudinally n extending keys .projecting from opposite'gsides thereof-and receivedlwithinnsaid first and second longitudinal slots, said blockhaving aV Aslit extending inwardly from, one

end thereof, and gidemeans positioned ',atvsaijd oneend of said hlock'for giding-said tape into saidVV slit.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Shoemaker June 3, 1930 Smith et al. July 15, 1230V Kahl Mar. 9,1920 t Sevigny Dec. 20, 1927v Rankin Feb.V 4, 1936 Y McGann f Apr. 2, 1940 y gow May 21, 1940 Hei'e'al; Jiny 1, 1941 Fe1ton'": 'rJn'CSO, 1942 Ga1l., May 17, 1949 

